Telecom Operators Guidelines to Link Phone Number (SIM) With Aadhaar: Need to Know

Telecom Operators Guidelines to Link Phone Number (SIM) With Aadhaar: Need to Know

The government is all set to expand scope of Aadhaar linkage. All SIMs (mobile phone numbers) not linked with Aadhaar will be deactivated after February 2018, informed sources. The government has already mandated quoting of Aadhaar, the 12-digit Unique Identity Number (UID) issued by the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India), for filing of income tax returns (ITRs) or applying for Permanent Account Number (PAN). It is moving ahead with linking Aadhaar with mobile SIM cards, the agency further said.

That means mobile phone service users will have to link their Aadhaar numbers with SIM numbers. Telecom companies had been earlier instructing users to start the process of linking Aadhaar card with phone numbers.

Many telecom operators have already started sending alerts to customers about completing the Aadhaar-SIM linking process.

Responding to a query in a series of posts on microblogging site Twitter, Vodafone India said: "Aadhaar based re-verification is to be done only once on a number. As per the instructions received from DoT (Department of Telecommunications), it is mandatory that the E-KYC (Aadhaar-based) re-verification needs to be completed before 6th Feb 2018 by all Telecom operators."

How to connect Aadhaar with phone number

If you have opted for 'eKYC' - Aadhaar-based activation - by providing the biometrics while applying for the mobile connection, you do not need to go through the Aadhaar-SIM linking process again, Idea Cellular said. Other subscribers need to visit their nearest Idea outlets and follow simple steps to complete the mandated E-KYC process, the telecom company said.

eKYC is an online method of providing details as per Know Your Customer norms.

Airtel Aadhaar-SIM linking

"As per the government directive, linking Aadhaar to your mobile number is mandatory for all existing customers," Bharti Airtel, the country's largest telecom operator, said on its website. Bharti Airtel also prescribed its prepaid and postpaid subscribers ways to achieve Aadhaar-SIM linking. To complete biometric verification, Airtel said customers having its postpaid connections are required to visit the nearest Airtel Store, while prepaid customers can do so by visiting their nearest retailer.

"We recommend you complete this process as soon as possible. Last date for the same is 6th Feb 2018," Bharti Airtel further said on its website - airtel.in.

Specifying the documents required for the process, Airtel said: "All you need is your Aadhaar card/number and your Mobile. You will be required to complete biometric verification. You will also receive the verification code (OTP) on your Mobile that would be required to complete the process."

Idea Aadhaar-SIM linking

Idea Cellular gave four steps for its customers to link their Aadhaar with mobile number.